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Topic: Female genitalia /HIV susceptibility (Read 3126 times)

After months of trying to educate myself further on the subject of HIV transmission, I have yet to find a concrete answer to this question:

What parts of a woman's genitalia have the type of cells that HIV is MOST likely to latch onto? (Probably all?)

In other words, provided skin is intact and disease-free, is the outer lips JUST as susceptible as the deeper walls or cervix of the vagina if it comes in contact with HIV+ semen? I ask because I had semen spill on my outer area, but not deep inside, at the end of protected sex involving late withdrawal.Male status unknown.

You're bothering yourself unnecessarily. Surface contact of the sort you have described between the vaginal lips and semen does not constitute a risk.

HIV is a fragile virus and requires a receptive setting such as inside the vagina to be transmitted. Condoms provide very effective protection. I don't see any cause for concern in the situation you have described.

Yet another transmission question. I read that the urethra carries the type of cells that are vulnerable to HIV transmission.What if some semen spilled out of a condom and ran down directly over the woman's urethra and anus after pulling out?Can HIV penetrate the skin without getting deep the urethra and anus?

I have read the welcome thread several times in the past.I guess I couldn't find any information on how deep into the body (vagina, urethra, anus) HIV infected body fluids have to travel before reaching the perfect environment, membrane or cell type to cause infection. Sorry if I sound so repetitive.

As a woman, the areas you need to worry about are the cervix, which is located deep within the vagina, and the lining of the anus/rectum. As long as your partner is using a condom when penetrating either of these openings, you're covered as far as hiv is concerned.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts